Comparison

GCTools vs NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

GCTools

This app provides a comprehensive suite of tools for geocaching enthusiasts. It offers coordinate manipulation, a wide range of cipher decoding and encoding options, interactive data tables, and various unit converters to assist with multi and mystery caches.

Highlights
  • Coordinate projection and distance calculation
  • Extensive cipher decoding and encoding
  • Interactive data tables
  • Multiple unit converters
  • Mapview integration with popular services
  • Coordinate saving and loading
Features
Read full description

GCTools - the geocaching tool collection! Here you find the tools to get your next multi and mystery caches done easily. Coordinates: - Target guidance - Projection of coordinates - Distance between coordinates - Intersection of lines - Intersection of circles - Intersection of line/circle - Center of circle - Coordinate conversion (DMS, DM, D, Lat/Lon, UTM, MGRS, Swiss Grid, Quadtree) - Saving/loading coordinates (inApp) - Mapview - Interface to GoogleMaps, GoogleEarth, OpenMaps, OffMaps, Navigon, TomTom, Pocket Earth and Waze Ciphers De-/Encoding: - Affine Cipher - Alpha Cipher - Bacon Code - Baudot Code (CCITT-2) - Braille Alphabet - Caesar Cipher (ROT-N), ROT-5, -13, -18, -47 - Finger Alphabet - Flag Alphabet - Pigpen/Freemason's Cipher - Hexahue Code - Mobile Cipher - Morse Code - Puzzle-Code - Semaphore Alphabet - Shutter Telegraph - Tomtom Code - Vigenere Cipher/One Time Pad - Custom alphabets - Saving/loading alphabets (inApp) Interactive data tables: - Cross Sum - Latin/Arabic Numbers - Maya Numbers - Resistors - Periodic system - Color Alphabet - Prime Numbers - PI Digits - ASCII Code - Binary Code - German Police Codes Converters: - Coordinates - ASCII/Number Systems - Lengths - Areas - Volumes - Masses - Angles - Speeds - Times - Pressures - Temperatures - Angles - Number systems - Data sizes - Flashlight - Menu favorites and search If you find something missing let us know! If you encounter problems with the app please mail to gctools@onedollarapp.com instead of writing a review here. We cannot contact you that way to find a solution.

About

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

This app allows you to read and write NFC tags, scan and create QR codes, digitize documents, and capture 3D models. It offers advanced NFC tools like encryption and batch operations, alongside a versatile QR code scanner and document scanner with OCR.

Highlights
  • Read and write NFC tags
  • Scan and create QR codes
  • Digitize documents with OCR
  • Capture 3D models and room scans
  • Advanced NFC tools (encryption, batch operations)
  • Customizable QR codes with logos
  • Automation and integration with iOS Shortcuts
Features
Read full description

Read and write NFC tags, scan and create QR codes, digitize documents, and capture 3D models - all in one app trusted by over 9 million users. NFC READING & WRITING Read any NFC tag to see web links, Wi-Fi, contacts, locations, payment links, and more. Write your own tags with 25+ message types (text, contacts, Wi-Fi, locations, calendar events, iOS Shortcuts, FaceTime, SMS, email, social media, payments, and Google Review links) that open apps, trigger shortcuts, or connect to services like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Spotify. NFC Tools: • Format, lock, password protect, analyze, and copy tags • NTAG 424 DNA: read secure tags, verify SUN tamper-proof messages, configure keys and SDM • NFC Tap Counter: teach NFC tags how to count • Batch Operations: write multiple tags sequentially, import from CSV/Excel • Custom Commands: send raw hex commands for advanced tag manipulation NFC Apps: • Passport & ID: read your passport or ID chip to view the stored personal data and photo • Sonicare Reset: read your Philips Sonicare brush head usage stats and reset its timer • Amiibo: scan to reveal the character with official artwork, build your collection, and back it up • OpenPrintTag: store 3D printing filament info on spools for automatic material detection • NFC Safe: store encrypted secrets on tags with 256-bit AES encryption QR CODE & BARCODE SCANNER • Scan any QR code or barcode with batch mode, plus a share extension to detect codes in your photos. • Create custom QR codes for all the same message types as NFC. • Design them with your own colors, logos, and Genmoji, and add them to home screen widgets. Supported formats: QR, Aztec, Code128, PDF417, DataMatrix, EAN, and 15+ other barcode types. DOCUMENT SCANNER • Capture documents with automatic edge detection and on-device OCR. • Import images from your photo library or files. • Save as searchable PDFs with full-text search. • Export to iCloud or share directly. 3D OBJECT & ROOM SCANNER • Scan objects into 3D models using photogrammetry. • Scan rooms with LiDAR to generate floor plans, detecting doors, windows, and furniture. • Measure dimensions and calculate floor area. • Export for 3D printing and CAD applications. Requires: iPhone with LiDAR sensor (iPhone 12 Pro and newer) AUTOMATION & INTEGRATION • Webhooks: send scan data to your server for inventory or custom integrations • iOS Shortcuts: launch scans via Siri, access scan history, write tags through automation • Widgets: quick-launch scanning from home screen, lock screen, or Control Center • Auto-Actions: open links, run shortcuts, play audio, or trigger text-to-speech when scanning tags CUSTOMIZATION Choose from multiple themes and icons, text-to-speech voices in 40+ languages, and Game Center achievements. Note: NFC functionality requires iPhone 7 or newer. iPhones read NFC but not all RFID frequencies. NFC.cool is in no way affiliated with Nintendo or Philips. Amiibo is a registered trademark by Nintendo and Sonicare is a registered trademark by Philips. These functions in NFC.cool are for educational purposes only. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

GCTools4 screens
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader at 4.5 against GCTools's 3.1. NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 40%) and ratings volume (6.8K vs 13). GCTools's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.2 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. GCTools sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader has 6.8K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of GCTools's written reviews are positive against 66% of NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

GCTools ships an update monthly, NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
GCTools versus NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGCToolsNFC.cool Tools Tag Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (13 ratings)4.5 (6.8K ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews66.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings136.8K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 11 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS9.2 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size41 MB117 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAchim HeynenNicolo Stanciu

Customer experience

GCTools

All ratings13 ratings
Positive53.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative46.2%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative50.0%

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

All ratings6,763 ratings
Positive86.6%
Neutral3.2%
Negative10.2%
Written reviews1,210 reviews
Positive66.0%
Neutral4.7%
Negative29.3%

Bugs and requests

GCTools

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to read certain NFC tags
  • App freezes during NFC operations
  • Compatibility issues with iOS 13 and newer
  • Inconsistent behavior when writing tags

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to clear/erase NFC tags
  • Integrate with Shortcuts app
  • Offline mode for writing NFC tags
  • Add support for RFID tags
  • Improve instructions and documentation

In-app purchases

7 purchases

GCTools

One-time7
  • Coordinate Storage$0.99
  • Circle Tools$0.99
  • Advanced Alphabets$0.99
Show 4 more
  • Vigenere/One Time Pad Cipher$0.99
  • Coordinate Types$0.99
  • 1 Year Full Version$1.99
  • Full Version$2.99
26 purchases

NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader

Subscriptions20
  • Unlimited Monthly Special$1.991 Month
  • Business Cards Service Monthly3 Days trial$2.491 Month
  • Unlimited 3DT Monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
Show 17 more
  • NFC.cool Scanner Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • UnlimitedPro3DT Monthly3 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Platinum Weekly3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Ultra3DT Monthly3 Days trial$4.991 Month
  • Unlimited3DT Weekly$6.997 Days
  • Mini3DT Yearly3 Days trial$17.491 Year
  • Mini7DT Yearly7 Days trial$17.491 Year
  • Unlimited Yearly Special$19.001 Year
  • Business Cards Service Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Unlimited 3DT Yearly3 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • Unlimited7DT Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
  • NFC.cool Scanner Yearly3 Days trial$29.991 Year
  • UnlimitedPro7DT Yearly7 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • UnlimitedPro3DT Yearly3 Days trial$34.991 Year
  • Ultra3DT Yearly3 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Ultra7DT Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
  • Business Yearly7 Days trial$99.991 Year
One-time6
  • Donut$0.99
  • Rainbow Dark Mode$0.99
  • Unlimited QR-Code Widgets$3.99
Show 3 more
  • Speech Synthesizer$3.99
  • Ad-free$6.99
  • Unlimited Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is GCTools free?
GCTools is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader free?
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, GCTools or NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader?
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader is rated higher. GCTools averages 3.1 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader averages 4.5 from 6.8K ratings.
Do GCTools or NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader have ads?
NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader shows ads; GCTools does not.
Which is updated more often, GCTools or NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader?
GCTools ships an update monthly, and NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader every 11 days. Most recently, GCTools was updated on September 27, 2026 and NFC.cool Tools Tag Reader on September 30, 2026.

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